South African TB Caucus

TB HIV Care has been appointed to act as the secretariat for the South African TB Caucus. The SA TB Caucus, officially launched on Tuesday, 04 September, is the local chapter of the Global TB Caucus, which consists of over 2 300 parliamentarians from 130 countries around the world.

TB HIV Care was at Parliament on Tuesday where both houses, the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, resolved to establish the SA TB Caucus. Once MPs left the chamber they were asked to sign a pledge – publicly declaring their commitment to ending TB in South Africa.

The Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislatures (MPLs) who joined the SA TB Caucus have been asked to:

Raise awareness of TB in their constituencies

Engage with media to raise awareness of TB

Monitor government funding for health and the performance of health programmes

Pass legislation that creates an enabling environment for healthcare in general, and TB services in particular

The official launch took place later that night at the Westin Hotel in Cape Town. It was a special evening which brought together TB survivors, ambassadors and TB champions from all walks of life.

Miss South Africa, Tamaryn Green, and the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr L Tsenoli, MP, both shared their own personal experiences with TB – as did programme director of the event, media personality Gerry Elsdon. The event hoped to ‘break the stigma’ often associated with TB, by bringing together a number of celebrity TB ambassadors (many of whom have also been affected by the disease). These included Prince Nhlanganiso Zulu, Lira, Kelly Khumalo, Thabo Pelesane, Zolelwa Sifumba, Basetsana Kumalo and Yvonne Chaka Chaka.

The event was hosted by Dr Aaron Motsoaledi (Minister of Health) together with Ms Baleka Mbete (Speaker of the National Assembly) and Ms Thandi Modise (Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces), who have agreed to act as patrons of the SA TB Caucus and signed the declaration on stage at the close of the evening.

In the words of Dr Aaron Motsoaledi:

“Members of parliament must be at the centre of challenges that face the citizens they represent. No other battle desperately requires the leadership, advocacy and guidance by parliamentarians than the battle against TB.”

The SA TB Caucus will be well represented at the UN High Level Meeting in New York on 26 September 2018. Now the hard work begins.

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In 2017, a report by the Global TB Caucus warned that unless countries step up to #EndTB, tuberculosis will cost the world economy close to $1 trillion in lost economic output by 2030: http://bit.ly/2HlaxEf
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